Endocrine Testing and Evaluation

Your Child’s Initial Endocrine Evaluation

If your child needs an endocrine evaluation, our endocrinology healthcare team will ask you to fill out a questionnaire that summarizes your child's medical history.

We will review previous medical records and/or lab tests, if there have been any. Review of a previous growth chart is if your child's growth will be evaluated. You can request a copy of your child's growth chart from your pediatrician.

During the initial visit, we will review your child's history and perform a full exam. Laboratory tests will be ordered as needed.

We have a trained pediatric nurse on site, so blood work can be done immediately after the visit. Sometimes, it is best to obtain blood work early in the morning. In such cases, we will give you a written order to obtain blood work at a commercial laboratory. We can also schedule your child for any X-ray (radiology) tests that he or she may need.

What is an Endocrine Stimulation Test?

Performed by an endocrinologist, an endocrine stimulation test is a specialized test that may be needed to establish the diagnosis of certain endocrine disorders. The most common stimulation tests are for the diagnosis of:

growth hormone deficiency

diabetes or pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance)

disorders of puberty

adrenal disorders such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

Preparing Your Child for an Endocrine Stimulation Test

Certain stimulation tests need to be done while fasting. This means that your child should not have anything to eat or drink after midnight, except water. The stimulation tests that require fasting are:

What to Expect During an Endocrine Stimulation Test

Every test is a little different. As a general rule, our endocrine nurse inserts an intravenous catheter (plastic tube that stays in the vein). A medication is administered by mouth or infused through the intravenous catheter to stimulate an appropriate endocrine response. Blood is then collected from the intravenous catheter at regular intervals.

How Long Does the Test Take?

The test usually lasts 1-2 hours. You may need to spend an additional 1-1.5 hours for placement of the intravenous catheter and administration of medication. Our staff will explain to you the specific details of the stimulation test that has been scheduled for your child.

Do I need to bring anything for the stimulation test?

We have a treatment room dedicated to endocrine testing that has everything you and your child will need for the test. There is a stretcher for your child to lie down, a reclining chair for parents, and a TV with a DVD/VCR player to help pass the time. You can bring your own DVD or books if you wish. A number of VCR/DVD movies are also available at the test location.